Saudi Arabia
Aramco expands HPC ambitions with new STC solutions contract
Saudi Aramco has awarded Solutions by STC a SAR 1.4Bn ($371Mn) contract to develop new high-performance computing infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. The one-year agreement will support Aramco’s Upstream Supercomputers Project, which is focused on processing large datasets for oil and gas exploration, reservoir analysis, and geological modelling. Under the deal, Solutions by STC will provide infrastructure, software, and managed services, including two HPC systems designed to operate together. While the exact location and technical specifications have not been disclosed, the project reflects Aramco’s continued investment in advanced in-country computing capacity. The agreement also builds on an established partnership between the two companies, following earlier supercomputer and digital infrastructure projects. More broadly, it highlights the growing role of HPC, AI, and large-scale compute in Saudi Arabia’s industrial and digital transformation agenda…Read more
Qatar
Meeza Accelerates Data Centre Expansion in Qatar
Meeza plans to quadruple its current data centre capacity over the next four years, as it expands to meet growing demand for AI, high-performance computing, cloud, and cybersecurity services in Qatar. The company’s 4MW M-Vault 4 facility is on track for delivery in the first half of 2026, with that additional capacity already fully sold. Beyond this, Meeza is developing a flagship 24MW campus at Um Garn, with the first 6MW expected to be operational by the end of 2027, while a further 16MW facility, M-Vault 7, is in the final design stage at Qatar Science and Technology Park.
Meeza currently operates five certified M-Vault data centres, providing 14MW of IT capacity. The expansion forms part of the company’s strategy to support Qatar National Vision 2030 and Digital Agenda 2030, while responding to what it describes as demand that is currently outstripping supply in the local market.
The company also highlighted Qatar’s low-cost energy environment as a competitive advantage, helping support more cost-efficient operations in a sector where power typically represents a major share of operating costs. Alongside capacity growth, Meeza says it will continue to focus on secure, compliant colocation services that support data sovereignty and local cloud adoption…Read more
Middle East
Ooredoo spins of cable division to target AI and hyperscale connectivity demand
Ooredoo plans to spin off its international cable and fibre assets into a standalone company, Ooredoo Fibre Networks (OFN), as it looks to respond more quickly to rising demand for high-performance connectivity from hyperscalers and AI-driven cloud providers. The company is already a key regional connectivity player and, in November 2025, announced $500Mn in new cable projects to capitalise on growing hyperscale demand. The spin-off is intended to give the business greater operational focus and improve its ability to expand subsea and fibre capacity more quickly. The move also reflects a wider market trend, with infrastructure platforms often attracting higher valuations than traditional integrated telecom operators. As AI, cloud, and digital infrastructure investment accelerates across the Gulf, the decision underlines the growing strategic importance of fibre and subsea cable networks in the region…Read more
Interesting News
Digital Bridge warns Iran conflict could slow AI infrastructure investment
Speaking at The Tech Capital’s InfraAI Global Summit in Athens, Digital Bridge CEO Marc Ganzi said the war in Iran is beginning to challenge the assumption that capital for AI infrastructure will remain abundant and easily available.
According to Ganzi, one of the most immediate effects is rising energy costs. He suggested natural gas prices could remain 20% – 40% above pre-war levels over the next 18 months, with oil stabilising at around $100 per barrel. This is particularly significant for the US data centre market, where a large share of future AI campus capacity is expected to rely on LNG-backed power. Higher fuel costs could raise the cost of ownership for hyperscalers and AI labs, potentially reducing how much capital they are willing to commit to new projects.
He also warned that debt markets are becoming more difficult. Financing costs have risen, spreads have widened, and parts of the private credit market that have helped support data centre expansion are now facing liquidity pressure. This could make it harder for developers, particularly those relying on leveraged structures or speculative gas-powered developments, to move projects forward at the same pace.
Ganzi added that the impact may also extend to equity markets. Sovereign wealth funds remain key backers of digital infrastructure, but prolonged disruption to oil and gas flows could affect the pace at which some investors are willing to deploy capital. While he said there is no clear sign that investors are pulling away from AI infrastructure altogether, he suggested cheque sizes may shrink and decision-making may slow.
Taken together, the comments point to a market where the issue is no longer simply demand for AI infrastructure, but the increasing fragility of the capital and energy systems needed to deliver it…Read more